Solana (SOL) faced selling pressure over the past 24 hours, with its price declining 1.05% from $21.31 down to $21.09. This continues the strong downtrend SOL has been stuck in throughout 2022 and into 2023. For traders, Solana's latest performance provides important insights into market sentiment and where this altcoin may be headed next.

In the past hour, SOL has dropped a further 0.39%, showing bears remain in control of price action. Zooming out to the weekly view reveals SOL has plunged 15.24% over the last 7 days. The monthly losses paint an even grimmer picture, with SOL down 18.29% in the past 30 days.

Clearly, Solana is firmly entrenched in a prolonged downtrend as the broader cryptocurrency market struggles. However, its substantial losses could make it an alluring contrarian buy for investors who believe the bottom is near. Powerful rallies off depressed prices are common during volatile crypto bull-bear cycles.

Despite weak pricing, Solana retains strong fundamentals that give investors hope. With a market cap of $8.59 billion, it remains a top 10 cryptocurrency. Its daily trading volumes also impress, hitting $306.09 million over the past 24 hours. This shows traders continue actively exchanging SOL.

Solana powers a high performance blockchain that hosts over 400 DeFi and NFT projects. Its speed and low costs have attracted praise from developers. As blockchain usage grows, demand for SOL to pay gas fees should rise. June's launch of Solana Pay for mobile payments provides another bullish catalyst.

In my analysis, patient investors buying SOL around current levels could see great returns during the next crypto bull run. Near term support exists around $20, so a drop below that may signal further downside. But those with a long-term horizon likely have an attractive entry point today.

Will Solana's All Time High of $260 Be Reclaimed This Cycle?

Solana hit an impressive all time high of $260.06 in November 2021, showcasing parabolic gains during that year's bull market frenzy. However, like most altcoins, it has since sunk dramatically from those peak prices. This leaves investors wondering if SOL will reclaim its prior high this cycle, or if that historic top is now out of reach.

The case for SOL surpassing $260 again this cycle centers on crypto's penchant for volatility. Supporters point to solana's blazing speed and its growing ecosystem of dApps as reasons why demand could quickly ignite the next major rally. Speculative manias are common during crypto bull markets, so a rebound to new highs can never be ruled out.

However, opponents see the current bear market as a reset for the overheated crypto space. Reaching new all time highs this cycle is unlikely for SOL and most altcoins. The parabolic gains in 2021 exceeded reasonable value, similar to the dot com bubble. SOL may need years of accumulating before a new sustained breakout happens.

My perspective aligns more with the bears, as $260 seems a distant peak that SOL is unlikely to eclipse this cycle. While timing crypto bottoms is notoriously difficult, the better risk-reward seems to be waiting for confirmation of the next bull market before buying. But with crypto, never say never when it comes to explosive short-term price moves.

What Factors Could Fuel The Next Solana Rally?

Like most altcoins, Solana is deep in a protracted price downturn that has stretched for nearly a year. But several potential catalysts exist that could ignite renewed buying pressure and fuel Solana's next major rally, including:

• New project launches on Solana blockchain - More projects attracting users raises SOL demand.
• Major exchange listings - Getting added to new exchanges like Robinhood would expand accessibility.
• Institutional adoption - Big investment firms buying SOL would validate it as an asset class.
• High profile partnerships - Deals bringing real world use cases could create new interest.
• Bitcoin price recovery - SOL and most altcoins follow BTC's price gyrations closely.
• Retest of technical support - Passing tests of key support levels signals bottoming.
• Overcoming network outages - Improved stability would remove a barrier to adoption.

Savvy SOL traders try anticipating these potential catalysts and timing entries accordingly. However, crypto markets are irrational, so predicting precise rally triggers is difficult. Maintaining a long-term perspective and avoiding FOMO are prudent strategies during volatile markets.